Multi-barrel plant inoculation gun

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to multi-barrel plant inoculation gun for a rapid large-scale plant and virus inoculation comprising (a) liquid container for inoculum solution ( 27 ); (b) compressed-gas source; (c) at least one compressed gas fast-discharge-container ( 28 ) having a gas inlet ( 34 ) connected to the compressed-gas source, and a gas outlet connected to a gas fast-discharge-valve; ( 29 ) (d) plurality of jet-injection units ( 35 ) each comprised of a body ( 20 ) having a liquid inlet ( 24 ) connected to the liquid container ( 27 ), gas inlet ( 23 ) connected to the gas fast-discharge ( 29 ) and a jet-outlet ( 21 ) internally connected to the liquid and gas inlets, (e) control unit for triggering-on the fast-discharge-valve; (f) chassis for positioning and supporting said elements.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a multi-barrel plant inoculation gun(hereinafter called also: MBG) for a rapid large-scale plant anti virusinoculation. The MBG performs the plant anti virus inoculation bysimultaneously shooting a plurality of compressed gas jets carryinginoculum solution particles into the inner tissues of plants within thegun's coverage area. The present invention further relates to acombination of the MBG and a conveying mechanism, wherein the conveyingmechanism is either for conveying green-house plant trays to theshooting coverage area of the MBG, or for conveying the MBG along rowsof plants in a green-house or any other treatment area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A well known method in the field of plant anti virus inoculation is theCross Protection method. According to this method, the inoculation of acrop against a virulent strain of virus is achieved by infecting thecrop with a mild strain of the same virus.

The mechanism by which cross protection operates is not yet fullyunderstood, and there are different proposed hypotheses trying toexplain it. Whatever the mechanism is the present invention deals onlywith its practical implementation.

It is well known that for the success of the inoculation, it is notessentially required to infect individually every plant, and somecertain percentage of it (according to the specific type of inoculum orcrop) is enough. However, a minimal infection percentage is needed forthe commercial effectiveness of inoculation.

After the infection procedure is accomplished, the mild virus developsinside the plants. At the end of the process (i.e. after the mild virusstrain was settled, duplicated and dispersed to all the portions of theplant), the inoculated crops become tenable against the virulent strainof virus. In various types of crops or inoculation procedures (accordingto the same method), there is a need to repeat the infection procedureonce again or even twice (in intervals of a week or two), for betterresults.

Until now, infecting the plants with the mild strain of virus, isachieved by hand-rubbing of each plant in the greenhouse with theappropriate inoculum, or by using an electric hand leaf blower forblowing the inoculum solution on each plant. Both hand-rubbing andblowing methods are extremely time intensive, and often fail to insurethe achievement of the minimal infectious percentage needed for aneffective plant inoculation.

WO 96/05721 discloses a method for delivering an effective amount ofexogenous chemical substance to a non-woody living tissue of a plant,whereby said substance is applied simultaneously or sequentially withlocal physical injury inflicted on the tissue of sufficient severity tokill or significantly damage individual cells. The invention alsodiscloses compositions which are particularly adapted for use by themethod of the invention, apparatus for delivering exogenous chemicalsubstances by the method of the invention and leaf prepared by theinvention. The apparatus taught in WO 96/05721 does not enable themaintenance of constant pressure levels with increasing the number ofbarrels which is a serious disadvantage.

The aim of the MBG according to the present invention is to effectivelyinoculate large-scale crops (usually in a greenhouse) by the mild strainof virus, thus saving time and money, and improving the inoculationreliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to multi-barrel plant inoculation gun(MBG) for a rapid large-scale plant anti virus inoculation comprising;

(a) liquid container for inoculum solution;

(b) compressed-gas source;

(c) at least one compressed-gas fast-discharge-container having a gasinlet connected to the said compressed-gas source, and a gas outletconnected to a gas fast-discharge-valve;

(d) plurality of jet-injection units each comprised of a body having; aliquid inlet connected to the said liquid container; a gas inletconnected to the said gas fast-discharge-valve; and a jet-outlet (in thecontext of the present invention called also “barrel”) internallyconnected to the said liquid and gas inlets;

(e) control unit for triggering-on the fast-discharge valve;

(f) chassis for positioning and supporting said elements and theirinter-connections;

wherein triggering-on the fast-discharge valve, discharges from thefast-discharge-container a powerful pulse of gas distributedsimultaneously to the plurality of jet-injection units through therespective pipes and brought to contact the inoculum solution receivedfrom the liquid-container through the respective pipes, for acceleratingparticles of inoculum-solution and shooting inoculum solution by jets ofgas from the jet-outlets into the inner tissues of plants.

According to the preferred embodiment, the MBG is further comprising aconveyor for conveying green-house plant trays under its shootingcoverage area.

According to the preferred embodiment the MBG has a computer means and auser-panel for controlling its operation according to operation modespredetermined by its manufacturer or by its user through the user-panel.

Preferably, the conveyor include sensor means supplying to thecomputer-means data concerning the presence or location of plant trays,and the computer means correlates the shooting of inoculum-carrying jetswith the convey of plant trays.

Preferably, the liquid container is a pressure-container connected tothe compressed-gas source and having a pressure regulator valveobtaining a constant predetermined pressure adapted to drive out theinoculum-solution from the container in the accurate essential flowuseful for the current inoculation job. According to another embodiment,the liquid container works without pressure and supplies theinoculum-solution by means of gravity force or by means of a pump.Preferably, according to both said liquid-container arrangements, anelectrical faucet buffers between the container and thejet-injection-units for an improved control on the inoculum-solutionconsumption.

Preferably, the liquid container include means for whirling the inoculumsolution, such as a motored propeller, a gas pipe bubbling within theliquid, a vibration motor vibrating the container or other knownwhirling means.

Preferably, the pipe connection between the liquid container and thejet-injection units is equipped with a unidirectional valve preventing areverse flow of liquid or gas which may result during the fast-dischargeof a gas pulse.

Preferably, the jet-injection-units are positioned on a flat matrixplate having crosswise orifices arranged in lines and rows, such thateach jet-outlet (barrel) of the jet-injection-units is fixed verticallywithin one orifice (preferably by using integral threading made in theplate material).

Preferably, the connection between the matrix plate and the chassis isthrough an adjustable telescopic mechanism (or other adjustableacceptable mechanism) allowing to change the height (and/or orientation)of the plate for an optimal adaptation to the type and arrangement ofthe inoculated plants.

According to another embodiment, the MBG is further comprising conveyingmeans for being propelled along green-house plant rows.

In the context of the present invention the term “gas source” refers toany type of gas supplier known in the art, either if it is carried bythe MBG chassis or it is an external unit connected to the MBG by meansof a gas hose. It may be an air compressor, a gas reservoir, a gascylinder. Preferably the gas is air, however other gas types may be usedas well.

The MBG may comprise mechanical or electromechanical means for changingor adjusting the orientation, height or lateral position of thematrix-plate relatively to the chassis. Thus, the MBG can be adapted foruse with various types of plants, (or plant trays) having differentdimensions, shapes, planting arrangements, or inoculation requirements.

According to another variation, the MBG is further comprises sensormeans adapted to recognize the presence of plants below the matrix-plateand transmitting this data to the controlling unit, for automaticallyactivating the MBG shooting, or for halting the convey mechanism of themachine at the end of a plant row.

Preferably, the inoculum solution is a hetrogenic solution containingparticles (such as carborundum particles) useful for insertion into theinner tissues of plants when accelerated by the compressed gas. Thus,preferably the MBG, further comprises means for whirling the inoculumsolution (within the liquid container) for providing a homogenizedispersion of the particles within the solution. Such means are anelectrical mixer, or a gas pipe ended near the bottom of the liquidcontainer for mixing the liquid by means of gas flow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the problem of reducing the pressure ineach barrel with increasing the number of barrels by combining thefollowing elements: at least one-compressed-gas fast-discharge container(28) having a gas inlet connected to a compressed-gas source, and a gasoutlet connected to a gas fast-discharge-valve (29); and a control unitfor triggering-on fast discharge valve. The compressed-gasfast-discharge container accumulates the gas pressure between successiveoperations, and then in a short period of time the accumulated pressureis discharged at once from all barrels. Triggering on the fast dischargevalve, discharges from the fast-discharge-container a powerful pulse ofgas distributed simultaneously to the plurality of jet injections unitsthrough the respective pipes, in order to accelerate the particles ofinoculum-solution and shoot inoculum solution by jets of gas into theinner tissues of plants.

The present invention will be further described in detail by FIGS. 1-3.These figures are solely intend to describe one preferred embodiment ofthe MBG according to the present invention, and in no manner intend tolimit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a chassis and a plant-trayconveyor of an MBG according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of three jet-injection unit ofthe MBG, and their associate connections as a part of a plurality ofsimilar jet-injection units.

FIG. 3 illustrates in detail a schematic diagram of the liquid-containerof FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a chassis and a plant-trayconveyor of an MBG according to the present invention. In thisembodiment the chassis is a wheeled table (1) comprised of a supportingframe (2) having wheels (3) allowing moving from place to placecomfortably, and a plant conveyor having a conveying-belt (4), movingendlessly around a drive-cylinder (5) and a tense-cylinder (6). Thedrive-cylinder (5) is driven by an electrical-motor (7) and atransmission belt (8). The conveying belt (4) is tensed by thedrive-cylinder (6), and its associate tense-mechanism (12). The frameheight can be made changeable by including a telescopic mechanism (orother acceptable height-adjusting mechanism) to the upright supports ofthe frame. The MBG user may control the conveyor speed through auser-panel (9) which controls the speed of the motor (7). Plant traysplaced on the conveying belt (4) right side, are conveyed to a coveragearea of the MBG below the matrix-plate support (10). The relative heightof the matrix-plate (not shown in this figure) is adjustable by atelescopic vertical support (11). The plant tray within the MBG coveragearea is bombarded by the MBG and then conveyed to the left of theconveyor. Mechanical sensor (13) (may be any other known sensor such asPhoto-electric sensor) recognizes the presence of a treated (inoculated)plant tray and stops the conveyor until being removed. The inoculationcan be made either during a successive convey, or during stops in theconvey, as selected by the user through the user-panel (9).

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of three jet-injection units ofthe MBG, and their associate connections as a part of a plurality ofsimilar jet-injection units. Each jet-injection unit (35) (illustratedin a vertical cross-section view) is comprised of a body (20) (20A)(20B)having; a liquid inlet (24), a gas inlet (23), and a jet-outlet (21)internally connected to the said liquid and gas inlets. The liquid inlet(24) is connected to the liquid container (27) through a pipe (24A), aunidirectional valve (25) and an electrical faucet (26). The electricalfaucet controls the flow of inoculum solution to the illustrated jetinjection units (35) and to a plurality of similar jet-injection units(not seen in this figure), through the main pipe (26A) and thepipe-junction (33) to which the plurality of said units are connected.The gas inlet (23) is connected to a gas fast-discharge-valve (29)together with the gas inlets of a plurality of similar units which allare connected through the same gas-pipe junction (32). Thefast-discharge valve (29) is connected to a fast-discharge-container(28), supplying a pulse of compressed-air to all the injection-unitsconnected to the junction (32), always when the fast discharge valve(29) is triggered-on. The fast-discharge-container (28) is fed with agas from a gas source (not seen in this figure) trough the gas inlet(34). The fast discharge valve (29) is a pneumatic valve controlledpneumatically by a pneumatic-control valve (30). The pneumatic controlvalve (30) is triggered-on by an electric signal received from acomputer means of the MBG. A plurality of fast discharge valves (29) areconnected to the pneumatic control valve (30) through a pneumaticcontrol junction (31), wherein the gas inlet of each fast-dischargevalve (29) is connected to a particular fast-discharge-container, andthe gas outlet of the same valve (29) is connected to a plurality ofjet-injection units. Thus, the total number of jet-outlets (barrels) ofthe MBG is a multiplication of the number of jet-injection unitsconnected to each single fast discharge valve (29) with the total numberof the fast discharge valves. The exact number of jet-injection unitsconnected commonly to a single fast discharge container (28) andassociate valve (29) may be calculated by a designer as a function ofthe length and width of the gas pipes, the gas capacity of thecontainers (28), the characteristics of the valve (29) and thejet-injection units (20), and the required jet pressure at thejet-outlets.

The characteristics of the jet-injection unit are mainly resulting fromthe dimensions (aperture diameter and width) of the jet-outlet (21),trough which pass the inoculation outlet jet. The aperture diameter isdesigned small enough such that inoculum solution cannot pass it withoutthe push of a gas pulse received from the fast-discharge-containerthrough the fast discharge valve. The electrical faucet (26) is openedperiodically in the intervals between gas pulses, for supplying to allthe injection-units a restricted dose of inoculum solution which is thendelayed adjacent to the jet outlet aperture, waiting for the next pulseof gas.

Each jet injection unit is fixed in one from a plurality, of transverseholes made in a matrix-plate (22) which a small part of it is seen inthis figure in a cross sectional view. The complete matrix-plate is tobe positioned within the matrix-plate support (10) seen in FIG. 1 withthe jet outlets oriented downwardly. Preferably each get injection unitsis comprised of an upper part having the gas and the liquid inlets and alower part having the jet outlet, both parts are screwed into the matrixplate transverse holes by means of matching screw-threads.

FIG. 3 illustrates in detail a schematic diagram of the liquid-container(27) of FIG. 1. This container is a pressure container comprised of acontainer body (41), a container cover (44), a mixer (40) driven by apiston motor (48) through the mixer shaft (49), a gas pressure inlet(47) having a pressure regulator valve (46), a security valve (45), anda liquid outlet (50) for supplying inoculum solution to the electricalfaucet (26) of FIG. 1. The hetrogenic inoculum solution is whirled bythe mixer for insuring its unity, and driven out through the outlet pipe(42) by means of the gas (43) pressuring the liquid in a constantpressure regulated by the regulator valve (46) and protected by thesecurity valve (45). Thus, a controlled flow of inoculum solution isalways provided to the jet-injection unit, without the influence of theremaining amount of liquid within the container.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-barrel plant inoculation gun for a rapidlarge-scale plant anti virus inoculation comprising; (a) liquidcontainer for inoculum solution (27); (b) compressed-gas source; (c) atleast one compressed-gas fast-discharge-container (28) having a gasinlet connected to the said compressed-gas source, and a gas outletconnected to a gas fast-discharge-valve (29); (d) plurality ofjet-injection units (35) each comprised of a body (20) having; a liquidinlet (24) connected to the said liquid container; a gas inlet (23)connected to the said gas fast-discharge-valve (29); and a jet-outlet(21) internally connected to the said liquid and gas inlets; (e) controlunit for triggering-on the fast-discharge valve; (f) chassis forpositioning and supporting said elements and their inter-connections;wherein triggering-on the fast-discharge valve (29), discharges from thefast-discharge-container (28) a powerful pulse of gas distributedsimultaneously to the plurality of jet-injection units (35) through therespective pipes and brought to contact the inoculum solution receivedfrom the liquid-container (27) through the respective pipes, foraccelerating particles of inoculum-solution and shooting inoculumsolution carried by jets of gas from the jet-outlets (21) into the innertissues of plants.
 2. A multi-barrel plant inoculation gun according toclaim 1, further comprising a conveyor for conveying green-house planttrays under its shooting coverage area.
 3. A multi-barrel plantinoculation gun according to claim 1 having a computer means and auser-panel for controlling its operation.
 4. A multi-barrel plantinoculation gun according to claim 1 further comprising sensor meanssupplying to the computer-means data concerning the presence or locationof plant trays, and the computer means correlates the shooting ofinoculum-carrying jets with the convey of plant trays.
 5. A multi-barrelplant inoculation gun according to claim 1, wherein the liquid containeris a pressure-container connected to the compressed-gas source andhaving a pressure regulator valve obtaining a constant predeterminedpressure adapted to drive out the inoculum-solution from the containerin the accurate essential flow useful for the current inoculation job.6. A multi-barrel plant inoculation gun according to claim 1 having anelectrical faucet buffers between the container and thejet-injection-units for controlling the consumption ofinoculum-solution.
 7. A multi-barrel plant inoculation gun according toclaim 1, wherein the liquid container include whirling means forwhirling the inoculum solution.
 8. A multi-barrel plant inoculation gunaccording to claim 1 wherein the pipe connection between the liquidcontainer and the jet-injection units is equipped with a unidirectionalvalve preventing a reverse flow of liquid or gas which may result duringthe fast-discharge of a gas pulse.
 9. A multi-barrel plant inoculationgun according to claim 1 wherein the jet-injection-units are positionedon a flat matrix plate having crosswise orifices arranged in lines androws, such that each jet-outlet of the jet-injection-units is fixedvertically within on orifice.
 10. A multi-barrel plant inoculation gunaccording to claim 1 wherein the connection between the matrix plate andthe chassis is through an adjustable mechanism allowing to change theheight of the plate for an optimal adaptation to the type andarrangement of the inoculated plants.
 11. A multi-barrel plantinoculation gun according to claim 1 further comprising conveying meansfor being propelled along green-house plant rows.
 12. A multi-barrelplant inoculation gun according to claim 1 further comprising sensormeans adapted to recognize the presence of plants below the matrix-plateand transmitting this data to the computer means.